LOVE LIFE AND SEE GOOD DAYS
Intro.
1. 1 Pet. 3:8-9 - We want to inherit a blessing -- we are called to life which secures it!
2. How? 1 Peter 3:10-12:
10 For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil."
I. WHO IS ABLE TO LOVE LIFE & SEE GOOD DAYS?
A. The One Who Understands The Promises & Limitations Of Life (Ecclesiastes).
1. Its balance (1:3-11; 3:1; 7:14).
2. Its joy (2:24; 3:12-13).
3. Its futility (1:2, 14).
4. Man's limitations (1:15; 7:13; 12:7).
5. Man's ultimate need (3:14-15; 12:13-15).
B. The One Who Is Can Properly Define The "Good" Days.
1. Using spiritual discernment - not sinful indulgence - Col. 1:9-10; 1 Cor.15:32-34.
2. With eyes of faith - Heb. 11:24-26; 12:1-2.
3. Wisdom to do good things - Rom. 16:19.
II. HOW MUST WE LIVE IN ORDER TO LOVE LIFE?
A. Stop Evil Speech & The Evil Heart Which Causes It - 1 Pet. 3:10.
1. Refrain - To restrain so as to cease or desist, to leave off.
2. Action: cf. Jas. 3:8-10 (Prov. 6:17).
3. Heart: Matt. 12:34-37 (1 Pet. 2:1, 22).
B. Turn Away From Evil - 1 Pet. 3:11; cf. Rom. 3:9-18.
1. Eschew (KJV) - "avoid…to turn aside…to shun."
2. Repentance and reformation - Rom. 6:1, 15-18, 23.
3. Shows good wisdom & reverence - Prov. 3:7.
C. Do Good - 1 Pet. 3:11.
1. A life of good works - cf. Lk. 6:33-35; 1 Tim. 6:18; Heb. 13:16.
2. Not because man says it is "good" - cf. Matt. 17:4.
3. The "good works" God has established & revealed in His word - Eph.2:10; Heb. 13:20-21 (3 Jno. 11).
4. To know to do God's "good" & not do it is sin! - Jas. 4:17.
D. Seek Peace & Pursue It - 1 Pet. 3:11.
1. Seek: In order to find…to crave
2. Pursue: "to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after…metaph., to pursue…to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavor to acquire."
3. Matt. 5:9; Rom. 12:18; 2 Cor. 13:11 - Make peace with man and God…
a. By becoming a Christian - Eph. 2:14-18.
b. By reconciling with others - Matt. 5:23-24.
III. WHY DOES THE WISE PERSON CHOOSE THIS KIND OF LIFE? - 1 Pet. 3:12.
A. Because The Eyes Of The Lord Are On The Righteous.
1. Not only that He always sees us - Prov. 5:21; 15:3.
2. But also that He is always watching to care for the righteous! - 2 Chrn. 16:9!
3. Who better, stronger, more capable to care for us in life than God?! (Heb. 13:5-6)
B. Because His Ears Are Open To His Prayers - Prov. 15:8, 29; 28:9.
1. We need a strength more powerful than ourselves in this life.
C. Because To Do Evil Is To Fight Against God (Isa. 59:2).
1. He knows the penalty of sin - Rom. 6:23.
2. He knows he will not escape judgment - Rom. 2:1-6.
Conclusion
Life is what it is intended to be when we "fear God and keep His commandments!"